What is the formula for calculating cardiac output?

The formula for calculating cardiac output is represented as the product of stroke volume and heart rate. Cardiac output is an essential measure reflecting the volume of blood the heart pumps per minute, and it is critical in assessing the efficiency of the cardiovascular system.

Stroke volume refers to the amount of blood ejected by the left ventricle with each heartbeat, and heart rate is the number of heartbeats per minute. The relationship expressed in this formula indicates that if either the stroke volume or the heart rate increases, the cardiac output will also increase, assuming the other factor remains constant. This concept is central in understanding how the heart adapts to different physiological demands, such as during exercise when both stroke volume and heart rate typically rise.

In contrast, while the other options relate to cardiac function, they do not directly define cardiac output in the same straightforward manner. For instance, the formula involving oxygen consumption relates to a different measurement, emphasizing how oxygen delivery correlates with cardiac performance rather than a direct calculation of output. Similarly, the mean arterial pressure over total peripheral resistance gives insight into systemic vascular resistance but doesn't outline the heart's output explicitly. The ejection fraction multiplied by end diastolic volume indicates aspects of ventricular performance but does not convey the overall delivery of blood